Thank you for such a quick and positive response for chapter one. I always get a bit nervous with a new story that it won't be as liked or as well received as my others.

We've got a lot of ground to cover in this chapter so let's get on. I own nothing as always.

Chapter 2

It was almost another week later before she saw Sherlock again outside of work. He'd called into the morgue with John in tow but when she had seen him at Bart's she hadn't liked to mention either the case or his bolt hole in her flat. She wasn't sure how much John knew and as Sherlock didn't mention it either she figured she was right to keep quiet.

It had been another long shift and she'd been sitting on the tube on her way home when she'd received a text.

Chinese ordered from your local. Should be ready in 10 mins. Pick up on your way. SH

She rolled her eyes at his presumption, but then smiled at the fact that she was obviously spending at least some of her evening with Sherlock. It reminded her of how pleasant it had been to have Tom to come home too. She didn't regret breaking up with him, it had been the right thing to do given her unresolved feelings for Sherlock, but that didn't mean she didn't feel the loss of his company and how lonely her nights had been since.

When she got home, ladened down with Chinese, Sherlock was lying across her settee with his feet hanging over the side. Two plates and some serving spoons were on the coffee table.

They ate in relative silence until Molly couldn't bear it any longer. 'So how's the case going. Did she say yes?'

'Unfortunately, yes, she did. I have to be honest it's proving harder than I first thought.'

Molly blushed lightly at the unintended double entendre, 'how so?'

'Maintaining the charade of liking this woman. She is intolerable; all she seems to talk about is television and fashion. I've had to start watching something called X Factor and The Apprentice so I can hold a conversation with her. So far we've had coffee twice and I've taken her for a meal. She's coming round to Baker St tomorrow night so I think I may have to get rid of some of my experiments.'

He looked so sad that Molly almost giggled, 'well if any of them entail body parts I would agree, and no, before you ask, you can't bring them here. Maybe, if you bring them to Bart's tomorrow I can find some space for them, at least temporarily.'

'Thank you, Molly.'

They spent the rest of the evening discussing some recent cases that they'd both worked on together, Sherlock quizzing Molly on some of the finer details of the autopsies and him regaling her with his deductions.

He finally left the flat about eleven, making his way back to Baker St with a genuine smile on his face for the first time in months. He was surprised with how easy he found it to be in Molly's company. She didn't grate on him like other people tended to, she was very like John in that respect. He looked forward to seeing her again outside of Bart's.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

The next night didn't pass quite so comfortably. Janine had come round about seven bringing wine and snacks and they had settled down together to watch the X Factor. She talked the whole way through it wanting to discuss the contestants, the fashion choices, the judges, the songs until Sherlock thought he couldn't take it anymore.

He excused himself and went to the bathroom where he took his phone out and texted Molly.

I can't do this anymore. It's too much. SH

Of course you can. Think of the case. Stay focused. Mx

He closed his eyes and sighed before heading back out.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Another hour later Sherlock had been making out with Janine for nearly half an hour and he was starting to get desperate. She'd finally succeeded in undoing his shirt against Sherlock's better judgement and he was busy trying to protect his trousers. Janine meanwhile was still fully dressed.

It was as she was kissing his neck he surreptitiously removed his phone with one hand and texted Molly quickly behind Janine's back.

Ring me

Then he put the phone down quietly on the coffee table. He started to escalate things with Janine safe in the knowledge that he would be rescued soon.

When Molly hadn't rung within two minutes he was starting to panic a little but then with relief he heard his ring tone.

'Sorry, must get that.' He said as he tried not to push Janine off too quickly. He stood whilst answering, 'Lestrade.'

Molly caught on fast, giggling slightly, 'possible murder Sherlock, definitely an eight.'

'Who and where?'

'Mid thirties woman about to die in her flat from boredom.'

'I'll be there in ten minutes.'

Sherlock hung up and turned to Janine, 'I'm so sorry, I'm going to have to go, there's been a murder and as ever Scotland Yard are too incompetent to deal with it themselves. This is probably going to take most of the night so let me call you a cab.'

'No, it's OK Sherly I'll keep your bed warm for you for when you get back,' said Janine as she came over to give him a final kiss before she swatted his backside, 'go solve your crime and there'll be a reward waiting for you.'

Sherlock grabbed his coat and phone before buttoning up his shirt as he left.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly was giggling to herself at the conversation she had just had with Sherlock. She had assumed he would shuffle Janine out of the flat on the excuse that he had a case, therefore giving him his flat back, so she was surprised when she heard his key in the lock soon after.

'Sherlock, is that you. What brings you round here?' She called.

He entered the room removing his coat and jacket and throwing them onto one of the dining chairs.

'Who else did you expect it to be, or do lots of people have keys to your flat?' Molly just blushed in response before he continued, 'Janine has decided to stay and warm my bed for me,' he rolled his eyes whilst he toed off his shoes and socks.

Oh yes Molly thought I'm definitely going to get a foot fetish

He threw himself down on the settee, closing his eyes and sighing in contentment. Molly had been drinking a glass of wine whilst reading. The lighting was subdued apart from the lamp behind her chair and there was a classical recording playing gently in the background. Sherlock felt as if he had landed into a sea of tranquillity.

'Would you like a drink or anything to eat?' Molly asked, 'and I should warn you... I've had a couple of glasses of wine myself so you may not be any safer here.'

Sherlock smirked at her joke, 'just tea if you don't mind...and Molly...' She stopped in the doorway and looked round, 'thank you.'

'You're welcome, anytime'.

By the time she returned he was deep in thought. She put the cup of tea on the table and returned to her reading.

An hour later she was ready to go to bed. She touched his shoulder lightly not wanting to disturb him too much.

'I'm off to bed now Sherlock. You're more than welcome to stay either here or in the spare room. Good night.'

He could still feel the pressure of her hand on his shoulder as she walked away and he had a sudden urge to go after her and curl up asleep in her room with her.

He frowned wondering where that had come from. He knew this wasn't an urge he could act on, not without prior thought. Molly was...what was Molly? He hesitated over the word friend. Once she hadn't even been that, she had been an acquaintance, then a work colleague.

But she had long been a friend, since well before the fall, so why did that word seem wrong, not substantial enough. It didn't seem to encompass all the things he felt about Molly.

Again he frowned, he hadn't expected that, he had feelings for Molly? But what kind of feelings? He'd never felt attraction towards Molly...had he? A slideshow of images came to mind, Molly smiling at him, her hand on his arm, the smell of her as he sat close to her looking at a Petri dish together, the curve of her neck as she leant over a corpse, her hair and the amount of times he'd wanted to pull the band out and let it hang loose around her shoulders. Maybe, maybe but he needed to be sure. Sanctuary was not attraction and he didn't want to do anything which might damage his relationship with Molly, she was too important.

Oh I do like it when Sherlock starts to realise that he 'feels' for Molly. They are, and in my opinion, always will be perfect for each other. She's the yin to his yang, the warmth to his coldness, the emotion to his logic.

As always please review, review, review.